[Noninvasive determination of pressure relations of intracranial and intracochlear fluid spaces during the glycerol test in normal probands and patients with Menière's disease].

BACKGROUND

The cochlear aqueduct is a route for direct pressure transfer between intracranial and intracochlear fluids. In patients with Menière's disease, intracochlear pressure is presumably disturbed. The "Tympanic Membrane Displacement Analyser (TDA)" is a new system which provides a useful noninvasive method of detecting intracranial and intracochlear pressure changes.

PATIENTS: In this study TDA measurements in combination with a glycerol test were performed in nine patients with Menière's disease and in seven normal persons.

RESULTS

Before ingestion of glycerol, no significant difference in pressure was found between the two groups. After ingestion of glycerol a temporary decrease in intracochlear pressure was detected in both groups without any significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

These results show that the combination of glycerol testing and TDA measurements does not seem to be helpful for the differential diagnosis of Menière's disease.